The very best of classical music
Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.
Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.
1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.
1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.
1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.
1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.
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Music Played
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Domenico Scarlatti
Sonata in F major Kk82
Performer: Angela Hewitt.- Hyperion.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No.41 in C major "Jupiter" (4th mvt)
Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.- Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39, 40 & 41 "Jupiter".
- harmonia mundi.
- 204.
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Franz Schubert
String Quartet in A minor D.804 'Rosamunde' (2nd mvt)
Ensemble: Chiaroscuro Quartet.- APARTE.
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William Walton
Orb and Sceptre - coronation march
Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.- Walton: The Centenary Edition: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Litton.
- Decca.
- 18.
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David Briggs
Variations on Baa Baa Black Sheep - Fugue/Toccata
Performer: David Briggs.- David Briggs.
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Johannes Brahms
Double Concerto in A minor Op.102 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Julia Fischer. Performer: Daniel Müller‐Schott. Orchestra: Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. Conductor: Yakov Kreizberg.- Brahms: Famous Pieces.
- PENTATONE.
- 701.
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James MacMillan
Children are a heritage of the Lord
Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.- Good night, beloved.
- Coro.
- 4.
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Errollyn Wallen
Dances for Orchestra (Dance I)
Orchestra: ѿý Concert Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.- Errollyn Wallen: Orchestral Works.
- Resonus Classics.
- 1.
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Francisco Tárrega
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Performer: Thibaut Garcia.- Meditation.
- Warner Classics.
- 63.
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Robert Schumann
Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op 47 (4th mvt)
Performer: Emmanuel Despax. Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.- RESONANCE: Schumann, Farrenc, Durosoir.
- Signum Classics.
- 107.
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Alexander Glazunov
Symphony no.5 in B flat major Op.55 (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: José Serebrier.- Glazunov: Symphony no.5/The Seasons.
- WARNER.
- 2.
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Matthew Locke
The Tempest: Curtain Tune
Orchestra: Vox Orchester. Conductor: Lorenzo Ghirlanda.- Purcell & Locke: Orchestral Works.
- deutsche harmonia mundi.
- 16.
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Augusta Holmès
Trois petites pièces: Gigue
Performer: Juliette Hurel. Performer: Hélène Couvert.- Compositrices à l'aube du XXe siècle.
- Alpha Classics.
- 3.
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Edward Elgar
Cockaigne Overture 'In London Town', Op 40
Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.- TELDEC.
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pezzo capriccioso
Performer: Johannes Moser. Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Andrew Manze.- PENTATONE.
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George Frideric Handel
All we like sheep have gone astray (Messiah)
Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.- Harmonia Mundi.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
12 Variations on 'Ah vous dirai-je, Maman', K 265 (conclusion)
Performer: Sir András Schiff.- DECCA.
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Sheep may safely graze (Cantata BWV.208)
Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner. Orchestrator: Neville Marriner.- The Best of The Academy.
- EMI Classics.
- 2.
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Igor Stravinsky
The Shrovetide Fair (Petrushka)
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.- Stravinsky: Petrouchka, Scenes de Ballet, Berliner Phil, Haitink.
- Philips.
- 1.
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Jean‐Philippe Rameau
Dardanus: "Lieux funestes"
Singer: John Mark Ainsley. Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.- Rameau: Dardanus.
- Archiv Produktion.
- 52.
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Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek
Symphony in D major (1st mvt)
Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.- Arriaga & Voříšek: Symphonies.
- Hyperion.
- 1.
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Germaine Tailleferre
Harp Sonata (Perpetuum Mobile)
Performer: Cristina Bianchi.- Scarlatti, Baltin & Others: Harp Works.
- Oehms Classics.
- 5.
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Edvard Grieg
Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (Lyric Pieces Op.65 Bk 8)
Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.- Grieg: Lyric Pieces.
- Warner Classics.
- 19.
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Camille Saint‐Saëns
Cello Concerto No 2 in D minor
Performer: Lynn Harrell. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.- DECCA.
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Robert White
Ad te levavi oculos meos a 6
Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: Graham Ross.- Palestrina Revealed - Byrd, White, Mundy.
- harmonia mundi.
- 109.
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Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto in A minor for two violins
Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.- CHANNEL CLASSICS.
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Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Symphony in F sharp major (2nd mvt)
Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg. Conductor: Marc Albrecht.- PENTATONE.
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Cécile Chaminade
Guitare Op.32
Performer: Eric Parkin.- Chaminade: Piano Works - Eric Parkin.
- Chandos.
- 11.
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Georg Philipp Telemann
Overture in D major, TWV 55 D6 (Rondeau)
Director: Jordi Savall. Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations.- Le Concert Spirituel: Le Concert des Nations / Jordi Savall.
- Alia Vox.
- 10.
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Richard Wagner
Liebestod (Tristan und Isolde)
Singer: Birgit Nilsson. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Karl Böhm.- Mild und leise, wie er lachelt.
- Decca.
- 9.
Broadcast
- Tue 2 Sep 2025 09:30ѿý Radio 3